What is the answer to -5 to the power of 2?

It depends on if it treats it as:

(-5)² or -(5²)

(-5)² is +25, -(5²) would be -25.


EDIT: Answer keys may have errors in it. I've seen it happen, and once it's found, good teachers will not it and let the kids know next time the book is used so they're made aware of it.

I'm with you. +25
Unless the question is -(5^2) in which case the negative would be applied after squaring it.
But typos do happen. Maybe there is a correction online.

when you take a number to a negative power, is is 1/(number to the positive power) 5 to the 2nd is 25 1/25= 5 to the -2 other examples 4 to the -3 = 1/(4 to the 3)= 1/64 2 to the negative 5= 1/(2 to the 5)= 1/32

HAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaa i don't know

is it like(-5)^2 or like this-5^2 if it is the first one then it is 25 if it is the second one it is -25

-5^2
= (-5)(-5)
= 25

it is +25. A square is ALWAYS positive.

it could be -(5^2) instead of (-5^2).... maybe perhaps?

yea i just did it on my calculator and it says 25, so i think the book is wrong cuz my teacher told me tht when i am tryin to find the a negative number by any power u r supposed to put parentheses on it, cuz it wont give u the right answer if u dnt

i think its -25